Wearable computing device for preventing drowning

Abstract

A wearable safety device for preventing drowning includes a housing for wearing on a user's wrist or limb and configured to be waterproof, biometric sensors, a motion sensor, a water detection subsystem, a processor for receiving input data from the biometric sensors, the motion sensor, and the water detection subsystem, and to evaluate whether the input data indicates a potential drowning or distress event based on predetermined threshold logic, a dye release mechanism for visibly marking surrounding water with a non-toxic dye upon activation by the processor, an alert subsystem communicably coupled, and a wireless communication module for transmitting a distress signal to a paired mobile device or networked system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable safety device for preventing drowning, comprising:
 (a) a housing configured to be worn on a user's wrist or limb and configured to be waterproof;   (b) one or more biometric sensors located within the housing, the one or more biometric sensors configured to measure data selected from the group consisting of heart rate, blood oxygen level, skin temperature, and respiration rate;   (c) at least one motion sensor located within the housing;   (d) a water detection subsystem coupled to the housing, the water detection subsystem comprising an element selected from the group consisting of a submersion timer, a water conductivity sensor, and a pressure sensor;   (e) a processor located within the housing, the processor configured to receive input data from the one or more biometric sensors, the at least one motion sensor, and the water detection subsystem, and to perform real-time physiological and situational analysis by evaluating whether the input data meets predetermined threshold conditions indicative of a potential drowning or distress event, the predetermined threshold conditions comprising a combination of abnormal or absent heart rate, low oxygen saturation, abnormal respiration rate, lack of motion, and submersion detection;   (f) a dye release mechanism communicably coupled with the processor, the dye release mechanism configured to visibly mark surrounding water with a non-toxic dye upon activation by the processor;   (g) an alert subsystem communicably coupled with the processor, the alert subsystem comprising a speaker or buzzer and at least one LED, configured to activate upon activation by the processor; and   (h) a wireless communication module communicably coupled with the processor, the wireless communication module configured to transmit a distress signal to a paired mobile device or networked system.   
     
     
         2 . The wearable safety device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is sized and oriented to be substantially similar to a wristwatch case. 
     
     
         3 . The wearable safety device of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a band configured to fit on the user's wrist or limb. 
     
     
         4 . The wearable safety device of  claim 3 , wherein the dye release mechanism further comprises a sealed cartridge holding the non-toxic dye. 
     
     
         5 . The wearable safety device of  claim 4 , wherein the dye release mechanism is further configured to allow replacement of the sealed cartridge holding the non-toxic dye. 
     
     
         6 . The wearable safety device of  claim 5 , wherein the dye release mechanism further comprises an electromechanical actuator configured to pierce the sealed cartridge to release the non-toxic dye. 
     
     
         7 . The wearable safety device of  claim 6 , further comprising a GPS module communicably coupled with the processor and configured to provide location data to the processor. 
     
     
         8 . The wearable safety device of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit location data to the paired mobile device or networked system. 
     
     
         9 . The wearable safety device of  claim 8 , wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit the distress signal and location data to a mobile application on the paired mobile device or networked system. 
     
     
         10 . The wearable safety device of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile application is configured to receive and display the distress signal and location data. 
     
     
         11 . A wearable safety device for preventing drowning, comprising:
 (a) a housing configured to be worn on a user's wrist or limb and configured to be waterproof;   (b) one or more biometric sensors located within the housing, the one or more biometric sensors configured to measure data selected from the group consisting of heart rate, blood oxygen level, skin temperature, and respiration rate;   (c) at least one motion sensor located within the housing;   (d) a water detection subsystem coupled to the housing, the water detection subsystem comprising an element selected from the group consisting of a submersion timer, a water conductivity sensor, and a pressure sensor;   (e) a processor located within the housing, the processor configured to receive input data from the one or more biometric sensors, the at least one motion sensor, and the water detection subsystem, and to perform real-time physiological and situational analysis by evaluating whether the input data meets predetermined threshold conditions indicative of a potential drowning or distress event, the predetermined threshold conditions comprising a combination of abnormal or absent heart rate, low oxygen saturation, abnormal respiration rate, lack of motion, and submersion detection;   (f) a dye release mechanism communicably coupled with the processor, the dye release mechanism configured to visibly mark surrounding water with a non-toxic dye upon activation by the processor;   (g) an alert subsystem communicably coupled with the processor, the alert subsystem comprising a speaker or buzzer and at least one LED, configured to activate upon activation by the processor;   (h) a wireless communication module communicably coupled with the processor, the wireless communication module configured to transmit a distress signal to a paired mobile device or networked system; and   (i) an override interface communicably coupled with the processor, the override interface comprising a manual button.   
     
     
         12 . The wearable safety device of  claim 11 , wherein the housing is sized and oriented to be substantially similar to a wristwatch case. 
     
     
         13 . The wearable safety device of  claim 12 , wherein the housing further comprises a band configured to fit on the user's wrist or limb. 
     
     
         14 . The wearable safety device of  claim 13 , wherein the dye release mechanism further comprises a sealed cartridge holding the non-toxic dye. 
     
     
         15 . The wearable safety device of  claim 14 , wherein the dye release mechanism is further configured to allow replacement of the sealed cartridge holding the non-toxic dye. 
     
     
         16 . The wearable safety device of  claim 15 , wherein the dye release mechanism further comprises an electromechanical actuator configured to pierce the sealed cartridge to release the non-toxic dye. 
     
     
         17 . The wearable safety device of  claim 16 , further comprising a GPS module communicably coupled with the processor and configured to provide location data to the processor. 
     
     
         18 . The wearable safety device of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit location data to the paired mobile device or networked system. 
     
     
         19 . The wearable safety device of  claim 18 , wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit the distress signal and location data to a mobile application on the paired mobile device or networked system. 
     
     
         20 . The wearable safety device of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile application is configured to receive and display the distress signal and location data.